Life-preserver.



No. 635,439. Patented Oct. 24, I899. E. KUNERT.

LIFE PBESERVER.

(Application filed July 26, 1899.; (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet WITNESSES: .INVENTOR: #MHW. J ERNST KUNERT,

Fme BY m: Nunms FEIERS co Panto-drum. WASHINGTON, u. c.

Patented Oct. 24, I899.

E. KUNERT. LIFE FEE/SERVER.

(Application filed. July 26, 1899.)

2 Sheets Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

WR E WN U K T S N R E WITNESSES ATTOR N TuE Nonms Psrzns co. mo'raumov, wnsumcron, u. c.

NiTE STATES ERNST KUNERT, OF NEW'ARK, NEW JERSEY.

LlFE-PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,439, dated October 24, 1899.

' Application filed July 26, 1899. Serial No. 725,139. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNST KUNERT, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Belts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

, This invention relates to improvements in life-saving belts; and my invention has for its primaryobject to providea novel construction of life-saving belt which shall be light and simple in its construction and can be readily carried in the pocket of a garment for immediate use.

My invention has for its further object to provide, in connection with the novel construction of life-saving belt to be hereinafter fully set forth, an inflating means or other similar attachment to permit the wearer of the belt to inflate the inner and chambered portion of the belt for its use when required.

A further object of this invention is to pro vide an inflatable life-saving belt having an attachment of such construction that said fastening attachment can be adjusted and hold the belt in a folded position, thereby securing a greater or smaller range or compass in usage and enabling the belt to be worn bylarge or small persons.

The invention therefore consists in the novel construction of life-saving belt hereinafter set forth, and also in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various parts thereof, as well as in the details of the construction of such parts, all of which will be hereinafter fully set forth and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front view of the life-saving belt em bodying the principles of my present invention and illustrating in connection therewith an arrangement of pocket in which is arranged a means forinflating the inner chamber of the belt. Fig. 2 is asimilar view of the belt with the flap of the said pocket represented open and the inflating means extending therefrom ready for blowing up the inner chamber of the belt. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the belt, illustrating an arrangement of straps and holding-clasps for the proper adjustment of the belt about the body of the wearer; and Fig. 4 is a similar view of the belt, but showing the same in one of its adjusted positions, said Figs. 3 and 4 also illustrating in dotted outline an arrangement of stiffening-plate at the back of the belt for more readily permitting the folded arrangement at the back of the belt illustrated in said Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is an edge view of the complete belt ready for inflation; and Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section of the same, said section being taken on line 6 6 in said Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an edge view of several portions of the said belt, all of said portions being represented in their inflated condition; and Fig. 8 is a cross-section taken on line 8 8 in said Fig. 7. Figs. 9 and 10 are two cross-sections of the belt, said sections being taken, respectively, on line 9 9 in Fig. 2 and on line 10 10 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 11 is a similar section of the belt, said section being taken on line 11 in Fig. 2, but the parts being represented in their inflated condition.

Similar letters of reference are employed in all of the said above-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

In said drawings, A represents the complete life-saving belt, which consists, essentially, of a front layer a, of leather or other suitable material, and a back layer a, also of leather or other suitable material, both said layers a and ct being stitched or otherwise secured together along their edges, as at o to form within said two layers a and a a suitable chamber a as clearly indicated in Figs. 6, 9, and 10 of the drawings. The respective ends of the two layers at and a are preferably turned under, as represented in Figs. 5 and 7, and have secured in the two loops a and'ct thus formed the holding or clamping sections 1) and b, of any suitable form of ornamental clamp or buckle B, which permits of the sep aration of the ends of the belt for arranging the latter about the body of a person and to secure the belt in position upon the body. Suitably secured upon the outer surface of the layer CL of the belt is a suitably-constructed bag a, which is provided with a flap a and a pocket for the reception of a flexible tube 0, which is provided with a mouthpiece c or other suitable means for forcing air through said tube. The bag portion a and the flap a thereof are provided with the holding members a and a, respectively, of a locking-clasp for securing the flap (0 in its closed position against the bag portion a", as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Within the said chamber (i formed by the two layers a and a of the belt A, I have arranged a pneumatic tube (Z, of rubber or any other flexible material, and arranged in said tube (1 and in the layer (6, directly back of the bag portion a, is any suitable construction of air-valve 0 with which is connected the end c of the tube 0. The construction of said valve o is such that air can be forced through said tube a into the larger tube (Z between the two layers a and a; but said valve will prevent the exit of the air from said inflated tube d, as will be clearly understood. In any other suitable position and extending through the layer a and the tube (1 is a second valve (1, which is provided with a stem (Z and finger-pieced to permit of the stem being pushed inwardly and thereby allow the escape of the air from the inflated tube cl when the belt is to be folded and stored away, but the construction of said valve being such that any escape of air from the inflated tube (1 is impossible when the belt is being worn. Of course it will be understood that I may use any wellknown constructions of air-valves in place of these valves o and (1.

As will be evident from an inspection of Figs. (3, 8, 9, 10, and 11, the inflating-tube (Z may be provided upon its inner surfaces, at the points where said tube becomes folded when the air is forced from the belt A, with suitably-construeted reinforcing-pieces (Z and d, which are made of any desirable flexible material and fold, as shown in said Figs. 0, fl, and 10. y

In order that the size of the belt may be varied upon the body of the wearer or to change its range or compass for use around the bodies of larger or smaller persons, I may provide the layer a of the belt, preferably at the back, with one or more adjusting-straps f, which are adjustably connected to the pieces f, secured upon the layer a by means of suitable loops f 2 and the movable clamping or holding device f as will be clearly understood from Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 7. Of course it will be evident that I may employ any other form of adjusting means at the back of the belt, and said fastening means may also be arranged upon any other portion of the belt.

In order that the belt proper can be properly folded at the back, as indicated in Fig. 4., a metal plate g, as indicated in Figs. 3, 4, and 10, is preferably arranged between the outer surface of the inflating-tube d and the inner surface a of the belt at that point, said plate also providing a stiffening means for morereadily enabling the placing of the belt against the back of a person.

From the above description of the device and an inspection of the several figures of the drawings it will be seen that I have devised a simply-constructed life-saving belt which when not in use can be folded into a very small space and carried in the pocket of a garment, so as to be at all times about the body of a person, and when in use can be quickly inflated and arranged in position upon the body. By the arrangement of the tube 0 and the valve connected therewith it will also be evident that should at any time a person wearing the belt in the water find that the in Hating-tube (Z is becoming deflated he can readily and quickly replace the lost air by forcing a fresh supply of air through the tube 0 into the pneumatic tube (1 within the belt.

I am fully aware that many changes may be madein the several arrangements and combinations of the various parts, as well as in the details of the construction thereof, without departing from the scope of my present invention. Hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various parts, nor to the detailed construction of the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. As a new article of manufacture, a lifesaving belt, consisting, essentially, of a chambered and collapsible casing, reinforcingpieces d" and (Z in said casing to cause the folding thereof, as set forth, when the air is forced therefrom, means at the ends of said casing for connecting said ends, an inflatable tubing in said casing, and means connected with said casing and tubing forinflating said tubing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a lifesaving belt, consisting, essentially, of achambored and collapsible casin g, reinforcingpieces (I and (Z in said casing to cause the folding thereof, as set forth, when the air is forced therefrom, means at the ends of said casing for connecting said ends, an inflatable tubing in said casing, means connected with said casing and tubing for inflating said tubing, and an adjusting means connected with the outer surface of said casing, for shortening and lengthening the belt, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a lifesaving belt, consisting, essentially, of a chambered and collapsible casing, reinforcingpieces (l and d in said casing to cause the folding thereof, as set forth, when the air is forced therefrom, means at the ends of said casing for connecting said ends, a pocket arranged npon said casing, an inflatable tubing in said casing, and means within said pocket and connected with said casing and tubing for inflating said tubing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a lifesaving belt, consisting, essentially, of a chambered and collapsible casing, reinforcingpieces d and d in said casing to cause the folding thereof, as set forth, when the air is forced therefrom, means at the ends of said casing for connecting said ends, a pocket arranged upon said casing, an inflatable tubing in said casing, an air-conducting tube in said pocket and connected with said casing and tubing for inflating said tubing, and a valve connected with said air-conducting tube, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. As a new article of manufacture, alifesaving belt, consisting, essentially, of a chambered and collapsible casing, reinforcingpieces 01 and d in said casing to cause the folding thereof, as set forth, whenthe air is forced therefrom, means at the ends of said casing for connecting said ends, a pocket arranged upon said casing, an inflatable tubing in said casing, means within said pocket and connected with said casing and tubing for inflating said tubing, and an adjusting means connected with the outer surface of said casing, for shortening and lengthening the belt, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a lifesaving belt, consisting, essentially, of a chambered and collapsible casing, reinforcingpieces d and d in said casing to cause the folding thereof, as set forth, when the air is forced therefrom, means at the ends of said casing for connecting said ends, a pocket arranged upon said casing, an inflatable tubing in said casing, an air-conducting tube in said pocket and connected with said casing and tubing for inflating said tubing, a valve connected with said air-conducting tube, and an adjusting means connected with the outer surface of said casing, for shortening and lengthening the belt, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

'7. As a new article of manufacture, a lifesaving belt, consisting, essentially, of achambered and collapsible casing, reinforcingpieces d and d in said casing to cause the folding thereof, as set forth, when the air is forced therefrom, means at the ends of said casing for connecting said ends, a pocket arranged upon said casing, an inflatable tubing in said casing, an air-conducting tube in said pocket and connected with said casing and tubing for inflating said tubing, a valve connected with said air-conducting tube, and an outlet-valve in said casing and saidinflatable tubing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a life saving belt, consisting, essentially, of a chambered and collapsible casing, means at the ends of said casing for connecting said ends, a pocket arranged upon said casing, an inflatable tubing in said casing, an air-conducting tube in said pocket and connected with said casing and tubing for inflating said tubing, a valve connected with said air-conducting tube, an outlet-valve in said casing and said inflatable tubing, and an adjusting means connected with the outer surface of said cas= ing, for shortening and lengthening the belt, substantially as and for the purposes set forth In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of July, 1899.

- ERNST KUNERT. Witnesses:

FREDK. O. FRAENTZEL, WALTER H. TALMAGE. 

